Failed Bander

[herewegoagain 15]

I had a lapband placed on Oct. 10, 2005. I lost 80 pounds but found there were always foods I could not tolerate. Foods were always getting stuck, despite following all the rules. I had my surgery in Reno and moved to Los Angeles. I work in the health care field, and we have a bariatric program. I notified our bariatric supervisor that I was vomiting all the time. She sent me to my PCP. She sent me to a surgeon who was intimidated by the UM department. They did an endoscopy and the GI specialist said it slipped. Then, I had an UGI. They said it was just high. I continued to vomit all the time and the surgeon was afraid to challenge the MD in charge of UM. I chose to change medical groups and had another UGI because I knew surgery would never happen at my place of employment. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have insisted they submit it and then appeal. I had a physiological reason for the medical complications and could have qualified for revision. I saw a surgeon who knew to remove the Fluid from the band. That stopped the fear that I would choke to death. I was getting ready to have the band removed and have a VSG when Kaiser notified me the doctor could only remove the band. I was told to see another surgeon at Kaiser and on June 24, 2011, I did that. I was 155 pounds instead of the 134 I had gotten down to. He said I had to have surgery that next Monday, but due to my esophagus being so thin with the possibility of erosion, he said the VSG couldn't be done for a year. I had the band removed and was I depressed. I was told I would gain 50 pounds and to be careful with what I ate. I have a surgery date finally, but I got a call on Friday asking me to phone the surgeon's office. Of course, my imagination is running wild. Are they changing the date or are they simply scheduling the pre op visit? I decided to repeat the bariatric classes. I am not learning much, but I figure anything new that I learn is a plus. I keep having to purchase larger clothes, and what I have for casual wear and professional wear for work is no longer fitting. I have feelings of self hate, and I know that is not healthy. Ultimately, I want to be healthy and lean. I know it will happen soon, but the waiting game is a nightmare. There is one other girl in my class that also had to have a band removed. Misery sure does like company. Anyway, that is my surgery of success, failure, and then the hope of future success again. I am glad I found this forum and will visit it frequently.

Joyce

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

hi joyce,

i want to commend you on realizing there was something wrong with your body, talking to your dr. who disagreed, then having the know it all/courage to move on to another dr.

I just want to throw in that i am very intimidated by doctors, and usually just listen in to them - if they told me 2 +2 = 7 i would probably - hmmmm, maybe you are right. so you were smart.

I am so very sorry for all your problems with your attempts to have the lapband removed and then your pending VSG.

i understand you feeling nervous, try not to let your imagination run wild - but thats easier said than done. you must return your doctors calls - you don't know what he's calling about, so just call him back.

Talk to someone about your fears, many of them are understandable, and many of us were scared and emotional too.

This is a good board to "listen" too and ask questions. Continue to ask questions and hope all will finally work out

best wishes

good luck

kathy

[VACookey 111]

I've never had lap band so I have no words of wisdom to offer you. But I can offer you my sincerest hopes that this all gets resolved for you soon. Best of luck to you!